Changing My Mind

"All my adult life, I have suffered from a mental illness".

With that very public announcement at a press conference in Ottawa in 2006, Margaret Trudeau told the world how she had suffered from bipolar disorder, and saying the "unsayable" she not only "survived" (p.322) but triumphed.

In "Changing My Mind" Ms Trudeau has written a powerful and forthright account of the ravages of bipolar disorder.

Ms. Trudeau illustrates the devastating effects such illnesses can have. Bipolar disorder is a life-threatening condition. Suicide rates are high and can occur when the person is in the depths of despair or is overtaken by the frenetic dysphoria and agitation of a mixed state of mania and depression combined.

Ms. Trudeau describes her loves and losses; her marriage to the former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau; her deep attachment to her children and the heartbreaking death of her third son Michel.

The book is an outstanding educational resource for the general public, journalists, physicians and mental health professionals. It will help to combat the appalling stigma that still surrounds mental illness and which is the product of ignorance and fear. It will reinforce the view that psychiatry must be practiced with a humane blend of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.

Alan Eppel

[[ASIN:1855756455 Sweet Sorrow: Love, Loss and Attachment In Human Life]]

Having lived in Montreal during the time when Margaret Sinclair married then Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau; her book brought back many memories of her public life when she was such a young bride and mother. I found her book to be very engaging, well written and hard to put down. Kudos to Margaret Trudeau for helping raise much more awareness and knowledge about brain illnesses, especially her condition, by revealing so much about herself and her journey to a place of wellness. I highly recommend this book to people interested in Margaret Trudeau's extraordinary life to the date of publication (2010), Canadian history and politics and/or brain illnesses and recoveries.

I bought this book yesterday. I read it until 4:00 A.M. I finished it today! It is well-written. I can easily recommend it! Margaret will contribute to an improved attitude and awareness toward mental illness. I respect Margaret fully! The book is worth the purchase!

Such a good read about an amazing lady and the children she raised and one is now the Prime Minister of Canada! She must be very proud of her accomplishments.

If you love Canadian biographies, this is essential reading. A very interesting woman and product of her times.

...This will help you have compassion and understanding and maybe help you detect illness in someone who has not been diagnosed yet. A very compelling read.

This book is for my mom. She remembers reading about Margaret when she was "jet-setting" around the clubs. She enjoyed reading the book.

I found the book a little phoney, and she left a lot out.